China's Hongdu rolls out L-15B lead-in fighter-trainer

China's Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) has unveiled a new variant of its L-15A (also known as the JL-10) advanced jet trainer (AJT)/light attack aircraft, according to Chinese media reports.

China's HAIG rolled out its L-15B LIFT in a ceremony held at the company's Nanchang headquarters on 1 May. (CCTV via sina.com.cn)

A prototype of the new twin-seat, lead-in fighter-trainer (LIFT), known as the L-15B, was rolled out at the company's headquarters in Nanchang, the capital of the southeastern Chinese province of Jiangxi, on 1 May.

The aircraft can also be used in the air defence and air-to-ground attack roles, according to the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC).

Chinese media reports claim that the new variant will not only be more combat capable but also better equipped than the L-15A AJT, thus enabling it to compete with other advanced trainers such as the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 combat-capable LIFT.

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